Good Schoolgirl tho the harmonica is a tad loud in the mix. The Dark Star is a must listen, exploratory and lysergic! St. Stephen is a bit raggedy for my tastes but some nice jamming. The Eleven smokes but is cut at the end. Death Don't is some serious soul music, nicely done. Lovelight is good but not an outstanding version and then there's TOO suite. Wow! For that alone this show is worth a listen being the sound of Rolling Thunder mixed with thick air. Jerry and company boil off into the atmosphere!

This is a great one, recorded in excellent quality. From about 15 minutes in to the blazing peak of glory at the 20 minute mark it's way, way beyond great, venturing deep into that rare territory where words simply fail. This is a must listen.

The version of Schoolgirl is notable for Pig's excellent harmonica playing.

The St. Stephen->11->Death Don't are all interesting versions. The Lovelight isn't exceptional for this era (but it's still good!).

After the Lovelight, Jerry talks about the band taking a short break. However, after being informed that time is running out, he announces that they are going to forgo the break and play for a short while longer. Then they launch into a smoking Other One with some great drumming and a sweet Cryptical outro.

"Thank you thank you ... I see the lights have gone on ... we'll see you the next time we're in town, or somethin ..."

"LET'S GIVE THE GRATEFUL HEAD A BIG HAND OF APPLAUSE!"

Damn! If that in't a set list to make your brains fall out-I don't know what is.Great early morning listen to a show I never knew existed. Don't you love it when that happens? BTW Sierra College is a community college in Rocklin, Ca. about 20 minutes from Sactown.

Awesome show.

"Hello, Crow." "Yes?" "Um, the Grateful Dead is coming to your college, and they want to melt your brain. OK?"

1969

I can't even imagine that, folks. Can you? College in the 1980s was not this exciting. Yes, I remember a Syracuse show or two, and maybe a few other college gigs, but they weren't like this.

What would your degree read after you passed this acid test?

My first show was the month before this one and I have always LOVED 1969 GD era music. My friend told me he saw the Dead in 69 at a college near SF or Sac. I stumbled on this show and have been BLOWN away!! Turns out his show was later at place called Sierra College not Modesto. But MODESTO! I feel like I found a treasure box!!! But most every show in 69 was awesom.

One of the best I have laid ears on, Jerry does not let up. TWO hot solos in Death Don't. And a wild and hairy Other One to end things. This is quite worth adding to your collection.

Incredible recording for March 1969. We are lucky to have it. Download it now, what are you waiting for?

DON'T FOOL AROUND AND MISS THIS SHOW.

This is what THE GRATEFUL DEAD sounded like when I first heard them. I still love their sound from back then. This is Garcia with a Gibson SG in 1969( http://dozin.com/jers/guitar/history.htm ). Other Great Guitarists with the Gibson SG sound include Pete Townshend & Angus Young.

Get both copies of this show. I think this version is more "live" sounding. The other copy is cleaner, but cleaner is not always better.

When the music is played pianissimo, normal tape hiss from 1969 becomes more evident. It's called "authentic" Unadulterated, unmolested sound. With the "equalizer" on your WMP or iTunes you can easily "fix" the sound to your liking without losing the amibience of the original recording.

TUBE AMPS SOUND INCREDIBLE, this is a great example of the "tube" sound.

JERRY'S SOUND IS RICH, ALIVE, FULL OF TONE, AND COLOR. That SG sound was something.

Spectacular recording, sound, and performance makes this show a "MUST HAVE".

Totally enjoyable DARK STAR, 23:13 of travel on the audio highway of happiness. (AHH)

"Death Don't Have No Mercy" is fantastic. Garcia's sound is wailing like a mother crying for her baby that's died.

He sure could make his guitar talk. He had such a great sound back then. FAT!

Thin may be in, but FAT IS WHERE IT'S AT. THE FLAVOR IS IN THE FAT. AND JERRY'S SOUND IS FAT.

Eat, drink be merry and listen to THE GRATEFUL DEAD.

Thanks for the Love.

I've been listening to all these Dead recordings all the way through from the beginning and i have to say that this is my favorite Dark Star thus far, sound is a little fuzzy but that gives it a cool electric sound. Really psychedelic shit.

This is a really scarily hot Dark Star.

This is one of my favorite shows from 1969; it gets at least as much airtime as the Fillmore West run a few weeks earlier. I highly recommend it for its elegant, well-paced Dark Star (which always makes me think of foggy days in San Francisco) and the astonishing Death Don't Have No Mercy, which I would rank second only to 3/2/69's flawless version.

I live within walking distance of Modesto JC and it's difficult to imagine the Dead playing there but here is audio evidence. This recording is very good for it's vintage and should satisfy "LiveDead" era fans. This show isn't all that different from the legendary Fillmore West run a month earlier. A typically hot '69 Star->Stephen->Eleven->Death is worth the download alone.
This download site is the greatest thing since sliced bread. I absolutely love it!!

This show is most noteworthy for the venue. As with the Vallejo show back in February of '69, the location of Modesto, CA is somewhat absurd in the context of the bands' future celebrity. For those not familiar, Modesto is a small town off of Interstate 5 at the outer western rim of California's Central Valley. Approximately 50 miles east of San Francisco, and slightly south of both Lodi and Stockton. Obviously, no offense is meant to the community and fine folks of Modesto, but the mind boggles to imagine the Dead in this setting. My primary association with Modesto is for my use of its rest stop on the way to Yosemite or the Southland.

Anyhow, after absorbing the context, what you're left with here is a surprisingly solid show. The sound is really fantastic and nearly just exactly perfect. Really. The band plays forcefully, with a rockin' nearly bar-band rendition of "St. Stephen", and a tasty "Eleven". I expected to be downloading a "novelty" show, but what I've inherited is a CD I return to with regularity.

As someone born in 1967, I am envious of the period in time where I could have driven to many destinations within a 75 mile radius of my home to see the Dead. San Rafael and Santa Rosa to the north. San Francisco, Berkeley, Crockett, and Vallejo to the west. Orinda and Modesto to the East. And San Jose to the south. I suppose having the novelty of access to the wonderful Live Music Archive is perhaps the next best thing to being there.

This is a keeper. Recommended.